Between sticking to a routine schedule, studying, and participating in extracurricular activities, keeping your child with ADHD busy during the school year is often much simpler than it is over the summer months. The added stress of managing ADHD during the school break can even create a cycle that requires treating anxiety in parents to treat anxious kids. That’s why getting ahead of the situation is important, and arming yourself with an arsenal of options to occupy your child can be wise. Here are some things your child can do to help him or her burn off summertime energy.

Jumping and Bouncing

Hopping around on a trampoline can be a great way for your child to blow off some steam. Whether you opt for an inexpensive single-person trampoline that’s used indoors or you buy a big one for your backyard, getting your little one off the couch and up and bouncing can safely redirect his or her bottled-up energy. Engaging in a physical activity like jumping can also help reduce potential ADHD medication side effects like sleeping difficulties; if children are worn out before bedtime it can help them to have a more restful night.  

Going on a Scavenger Hunt

If your goal is for your child to be both physically active and mentally stimulated, then setting up a scavenger hunt might be the perfect way to engage him or her. You can tailor the list of tasks or accomplishments to the age and focus level of your child, and the amount of skill required can be increased as your child becomes more practiced at successfully completing hunts. Be sure to work in safe physical tasks like crawling, jumping, and climbing to up the activity level and tire your child out. Just be careful not to make the scavenging goals too challenging; you’ll want your child to have fun without becoming too frustrated.

Getting Exercise

Although being impulsive and lacking focus can make it difficult for your ADHD child to participate in group sports, there are many individual summertime activities that can help him or her burn through excess energy. Swimming, for example, can relax your child’s busy mind while wearing him or her out. If you don’t have a pool or the public one is too chaotic, then going for a bike ride may have similar benefits. Cycling can give your child a workout and provide him or her with a change of scenery that’s interesting and engaging.

Having some activities planned out ahead of time can help you on those summertime days when your child needs to be kept busy. Try out one or more of these ideas to see what works best for your little one. It’s also wise to shop the internet for alternatives to traditional medications, such as supplements like Brillia for ADHD, that can give you some extra help in managing your child’s excess energy. With a plan in hand, you and your child will be more likely to have a calm and happy summer.